Track and carriage for sorting devices



ma zl, 1940. Q c, CA EY v 2,201,227

TRACK AND CARRIAGE FOR SORTING DEVICES Filed Feb. 13, 1939 INVENTOK msaass 5' EHEE'Y- v ATTORNEY.

Patented May 21, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRACK AND CARRIAGE FOR SORTING DEVICES 4 Claims;

My invention relates to a sorting tray support of the type having a track and carriage.

Objects of my invention generally are to so improve such a device as to obtain maximum. efliciency in operation. Among the objects and advantages which I have obtained are the following: simplicity of construction; accuracy in the correlation of parts; sturdiness; freedom from lost motion; no tipping in any direction regardless of the relative position of the parts; freedom from friction; ease of operation; movement of substantially double the length of the track; such a device that is substantially self-cleaning, endurable and that does not require lubrication. One of the great contributing factors in achieving the above results is to be found in the provision of the perfectly parallel and perfectly horizontal correlating track and slide parts.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a construction embodying my invention, partly broken away at the center to economize room;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3, Fig. 1;

- Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4, Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a section on the" line 5--5, Fig. 1 to an enlarged scale.

The construction includes a base plate I, extending laterally and upwardly at its edges to form flanges lat-4a, extending at an angle which may be 45 degrees.

22 are angle-irons lying against and secured to the inner surfaces of the flanges lit-Ia and extending beyond the outer edges of said flanges. O The outer edges of the angle-irons 2 are bent at right angles to form the inwardly and upwardly extending flanges 2a2a.

3 is a plate constituting the carrier or carriage proper. The plate 3 is turned up at its edges so as to form flanges 3a 3a. extending outward and 40 upward, parallel or substantially parallel to the respective flanges 22. The flanges 3a 3a are again turned upward at their outer edges to form vertical flanges 3b-3b.

4 is a plate turned downward at its edges to 45 form the flanges iar-4a extending downward and outward say at 45 degrees to be parallel to or substantially parallel to the respective flanges ZGr-Zll. The plate 4 is secured to the lower surface of the plate 3.

The plates I, 2, 3 and 4 are of such dimensions that the angle-iron 2, its flange 2a, and the flanges 3a and 4a, form parallel and opposing surfaces.

5 indicates balls fitting to engage said opposing surfaces and to lock the carrier in position ,as well as serving as ball bearings on which the carriage 3 may slide relative to the base plate I.

E-6 are stops secured near the center of the angle-irons 2 to limit the inward motion of the balls 5 and l--1 are similar stops removably secured to the ends of said angle-irons to limit the outward travel of said balls.

8--& are metal rods or strips secured to the ends of the plate 3 to prevent the balls from passing beyond the ends of said plate.

Thus it is seen that one side of the stops 6 cooperates with one rod 8 to engage two balls 5 when one end of the carriage 3 has been moved adjacent the stops '5 and the balls cannot be removed without first removing one pair of stops l.

The flanges la, 3a, and 4a, are preferably at an angle of 45 degrees with their respective plates. The flange 2a is at right angles to the portion of the angle-iron 2 that lies upon the surface of A the flange Ia. Together they form a way for the balls 5, rectangular in cross-section with opposite corners in vertical and horizontal planes, respectively, with parallel opposing faces, and the balls 5 run in V-shaped grooves, are definitely constrained in their motion without lost motion, and the plate 3 is locked to the plate I and may be very easily moved longitudinally of the latter without any side sway, friction nor tipping tendency. a The ease with which the plates I, 3 and 4 may be rolled and assembled is obvious. The sorting container or tray is mounted upon the carrier 3 and is moved forward and back therewith according to the requirements of the operator.

By providing a substantial incline to the lower sides of the parallelograms in which the balls ride, most of the dust that gets into the moving parts either slides or is pushed down the inclined surfaces of the angle-irons as the balls roll. Any other matter that does not slide doWnthe inclined surfaces can be easily removed by merely placing on the balls a light coating of oil,- such as typewriter oil, and the balls will then push the dirt down the inclined surfaces as they roll.

No lubrication is required. The oil above referred to is merely for aiding the self-cleaning feature of my device.

I claim:

l. A sorting tray support including a base having upwardly and laterally extending flanges, said flanges extending at right angles inwardly at their outer edges to form additional flanges, and a carrier having laterally and downwardly, and laterally and upwardly, extending flanges at its edges, 55

the surfaces on the flanges of said base and the flanges of said carrier, opposing each other to form two ball-ways, and balls between said flanges.

2. A sorting tray support including a base having laterally and upwardly extending flanges, angle irons on the surfaces of said flanges bent inwardly at right angles at their edges to form flanges, and a carrier having laterally and downwardly, and laterally and upwardly, extending flanges at its edges, the surfaces on the flanges of said angle irons and the flanges of said carrier opposing each other to form two ball-ways and balls between said flanges.

3. A sorting tray support including a base plate having upwardly and laterally extending flanges extending inwardly at right angles at their outer edges to form additional flanges and a carrier including an upper plate shaped to form upwardly and laterally extending flanges at its edges and a lower plate secured to said upper plate and shaped to form laterally and downwardly extending flanges at its edges, the surfaces on the flanges of said base and the flanges of said carrier opposing each other to form two ball-ways and balls between said flanges.

4. A sorting tray support including a base plate having laterally and upwardly extending flanges, angle irons on the surfaces of said flanges bent inwardly at right angles at their outer edges to form flanges, and a carrier including an upper 

